5 Time Management Tips to Streamline Your Open Enrollment Period

Open Enrollment

We’ve been discussing the upcoming Open Enrollment period a lot lately, and we know it’s a stressful time for many of you. Do you ever feel overwhelmed and unable to accomplish much during this time? If you answered yes, then these stress-reducing time management tips may be the answer you are looking for.

Stress-Reducing Time Management Tips

Make a to-do list. This may sound silly, but to-do lists can be extremely helpful when you’re super busy. Taking 20 minutes every morning to plan out what you want to accomplish that day can make a huge difference. Cornerstone Dynamics found that spending 10-12 minutes planning what you want to get done can save you up to 2 hours of wasted time that day. Having those goals in place will help you not only achieve them, but they’ll help make you be more productive throughout your day because you know what you need to do. Go one step further and digitize your to-do list in your CRM or Agency Management System (AMS). That way, every time you log-in, your “to-dos” will be right there in your system so you know exactly what to do next.

Did you know: 70% of professionals use a to-do list on a regular basis to map out what they need to get done.

Set deadlines for yourself. Set hard deadlines for yourself, but make sure they are realistic. Hard deadlines are beneficial because not only will you have a boost of pride when you accomplish the task, but you’ll also know exactly what is due and when.

Pro tip: If setting long term goals makes you a bit anxious, consider breaking the project down and setting miniature milestones throughout so you know if you’re on pace to meet your overall goal (plus it’ll give you a little confidence boost each time you accomplish a milestone).

Block off time. Your day is filled with interruptions, and even when you have your “do not disturb” sign posted, those interruptions will still make their way to you. Use this time you’ve blocked off to work towards a deadline, catch up on emails/calls, complete necessary projects and recenter your focus. Just note, you will have interruptions during this, so make sure you give yourself a generous amount of time to accomplish all of these tasks.

Did you know: Dovico found that the average person gets 1 interruption every 8 minutes, or approximately 7 an hour, or 50-60 per day. The average interruption takes 5 minutes, totaling about 4 hours or 50% of the average workday.

One thing at a time. It may seem like multi-tasking is your best option to get stuff done when you have a lot on your plate, but that’s actually a lie. Simply Productive found that those who multi-task can be up to 40% less productive than those who focused solely on one thing. Therefore, it’s better to give your full, undivided attention to one task at a time than try to do two or three all at once.

Pro tip: Schedule and vary your tasks. If you’re focusing hard on something creative and it’s just not connecting, try switching to a more mechanical task to help reset your creative juices. Then, when that task is completed, go back to the creative one and finish it.

Automate your process. The Open Enrollment period is anything but slow; automating your process can help make the season run smoother and be more profitable for you and your agency. Automated email campaigns help immensely by maintaining contact with your clients when you are either too busy or you forget. You can set up your own automated campaigns for things like policy renewals, E&O expirations, or birthdays. This automation allows you to be more client-focused, organized, and prepared during Open Enrollment.

Did you know: You can automate your book-of-business today with AgencyBloc’s industry-specific Agency Management System (AMS). See how the system could work for your agency with a Live 1-on-1 Demo.

Want to have your best OE season yet?

Having the right toolset can make your Open Enrollment season more productive and profitable. Learn how today with our Free eBook: Tips for a Productive & Profitable Open Enrollment Season.

Allison is the Marketing Content Specialist at AgencyBloc. She creates educational content and designs videos to promote AgencyBloc's resources to help you organize, automate, and grow your insurance agency. Favorite quote: “Conversation is the bedrock of relationships. Without it, our relationships are devoid of substance.” -Maribeth Kuzmeski
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